Authorities say a traffic dispute on San Antonio's East Side turned into a felony case when a local pre-K teacher allegedly pulled a gun on another driver along FM 78.
Latashia Deshawn County, 51, was arrested after deputies say she pointed a handgun at another motorist during a road-rage confrontation on May 20 in the 6300 block of FM 78. Investigators report finding a firearm that matched the description given by the victim, and County was booked on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was released the following day on a $50,000 bond.
What deputies say
According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the victim told deputies that a woman pointed a firearm at her after a verbal exchange during the traffic flare-up. Investigators say they later recovered a gun that matched the victim’s description at the scene. Deputies identified the suspect as Latashia Deshawn County and say she admitted to displaying the weapon during the encounter, as reported by News4SanAntonio.
School ties
Investigators say County works as a pre-K teacher at Essence Preparatory Public School. The campus describes itself as a tuition-free charter school serving students from pre-K through eighth grade, according to Essence Preparatory Public School.
Booking and bond
County was booked into the Bexar County Jail on the aggravated-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charge. Jail records show she was released the next day after posting a $50,000 bond, according to Bexar County.
Legal implications
Under Texas law, displaying or using a deadly weapon during an assault elevates the offense to aggravated assault. Texas Penal Code §22.02 defines the crime and generally classifies aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon as a second-degree felony. Punishment for a second-degree felony typically ranges from two to 20 years in prison, while certain circumstances can bump the charge up to a first-degree felony, according to Justia.
Local context
The FM 78 corridor and surrounding neighborhoods have already been on law enforcement’s radar in recent years after a series of violent incidents, with deputies at times rolling out mobile substations to boost patrols along the busy route, reporting by the San Antonio Express-News shows. That history helps explain why deputies moved quickly when a caller reported a weapon being flashed during a traffic dispute.
What happens next
Prosecutors will review the case and determine formal charges, and any court dates will be set through Bexar County’s criminal-docket system. The county’s online dockets and the Central Magistrate search list upcoming hearings and filings, according to Bexar County.
